Steam iron



J. H. CONE STEAM IRON Jan. 15, 1957 Filed April 18, i951 2 Sheets-Sheetl nventor Jaya/0?#- 67 0/16 (Ittornegs 7%/ a v l, i.

J. H. CONE STEAM IRON Jan. 15, 1957 Filed April 18, i951 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Imventor Josep?! fl C'U/e www' WL attorneys of the handle structure.

United States Patent O STEAM IRON v Joseph H. Cone, Bridgeport, Conn.,assigner to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporationof Connecticut Application April 18, 1951, Serial No. 221,650 v Claims.(Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to steam atirons of the type having atank or boiler, and in its more specic aspect rmore particularly to suchirons having a hinged handle structure extending over the tank,providedwith stopper means to close a funnel-likevflling opening in thetank.

This invention is a modification of the invention disclosed in mycopending application, Serial No. 128,270, tiled November 19, 1949.

ln some irons of this type the filler opening or orifice is located atthe bottom of a funnel which has a relatively wide mouth secured to thetop wall of the tank, the funnel extending down into the tank. By suchconstruction the filling of the tank is obviously made very easy, andthe likelihood of spillage during the filling operation is minimized.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide an improved steamiron construction, particularly with regard to the closure for thefilling opening and to the `latch means for the handle which makesallowances for the tolerances and variations present in mass production.This. is accomplished, for example, where the iron is constituted ofseparate sheet metal boiler and casing parts having superposed top wallspossessing a certain degree of yieldability, the stopper mounting andlatch therefor is mounted on the casing wall whereas the seal or funnelof the filler opening, which is engaged by the stopper, is mounted onthe boiler wall. The yield of the rubberlike sealing member and of thecasing and boiler walls enable the latch parts and stopper and lleropening to be positioned less critically and still maintain a constantforce between the stopper and the seat therefore in said opening. v

Or, where the latch 'has spring means associated with it to preventlooseness, I rearrange the spring means to provide the latch with alimited amount of yield under pressure whereby in conjunction with ayieldable rubberlike stopper element it can function to accommodate arigid simplied stopper mounting.

In another embodiment of the invention l incorporate a certain degree ofyield in the funnel or seat itself, to allow for variations andtolerances in manufacture, and have found that this results in adesirable simplification and economy of the parts since the funnelyieldability can be provided in an extremely simple manner.

By utilizing the yieldability of various components of the iron as setforth above, the stopper member for the ller opening may comprise asimple sealing annulus or disk mounted on a rigid stud secured to theunderside The sealing disk may be loosely carried by the end of the studas illustrated in one embodiment of the invention, or it may be rigidlycarried by the stud and adjustably positioned on the handle structure bythe use of shims or spacer washers on the stud.

yStill another object of the invention is to provide an improved steamiron as above, which has relatively few Q, parts of simple structure,and which is economical to vfabricate and reliable in use.

Mice

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in elevation and partly inverticalsection, of an improved steam iron made in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a View somewhat similar to Fig. l, but showing the handle ofthe iron in raised position to enable the boiler to be lled.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section,showing a rear corner of the iron and the hinge and latch mechanismthereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rear of the ironand casing, showing the hinge and locking aperture for the pintle orhinge pin.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pintle or hinge pin.

Fig. 6 is a top or plan view of the stopper assembly.

Fig. 7 is a diametric section taken'on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through a novellatchi'ng mechanism of theiron, the latch being in locking position.

Fig. 9 is a view like Fig. 8, but with the latch in released position.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the lfiller openingand funnel of the steam iron, showing a The steam iron embodying thepresent invention as shown in Figs. l and 2 comprises a sole-plate 2t)having 'an electric heating element 21' controlled by the usualthermostat (not shown) havingan adjusting shaft 22 and thermostat knob23. The sole plate 2t) has disposed ou it a casing 24- in which a boiler25 is mounted, said boiler being secured by means of a threaded sleeve26 and steam tube 27 to a cover plate 28 of a steam chamber 29 locatedin the forward portion of the sole plate 20. The cover plate 28 isfastened to the sole plate Ztl by screws 30 as shown.

Steam is brought into the chamber 29 through the steam tube 27 whichextends into a tapered steam dome 31 mounted on the top walls of theboiler 25 and casing 24. Baifles 32, 33 and 34 are provided around thetube 27 to prevent water in the boiler 25 from splashing into the tubeand passing downward into the steam Achamber 29.

For the purpose of lling the boiler 25 a filler opening 35' is providedin the top walls of the boiler and casing. Secured to the edge portionsof the filler opening is a funnel 36 having at its bottom an angularlyand rearwardly extended deilector 37. The funnel 36 is of relativelylarge diameter to enable the boiler 25 to be easily and convenientlyfilled without spillage. `However, because the funnel 36 extendsdownward into the boiler 25 it prevents the boiler when' inverted fromcompletely emptying itself of water. v

In accordance with the present invention novel means are provided on theboiler 25, providing an unobstructed discharge passage from thelowermost point of the boiler when the iron is inverted into emptyingposition, whereby substantially all the water in the boiler may run out.This means, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein,includes the steam dome 31 and a dischargev tothe steam dome when theiron is inverted for emptying. Accordingly, by the present invention notonly is it possible to easily and quickly iill the boiler 25, but it isalso possible to easily and quicklyy completely empty the boiler of allits liquid content through the discharge opening 38 by the mere act ofturning the iron upside down with the 'discharge opening unsealed.Accordingly a housewife `may `readily change from vsteam ironing *to dryironing without being required to go through involved operations tocompletely empty the boiler 25.

The iron shown in Figs. l and 2is of the type having a handle structurewhich is hingedly mounted so it can occupy lan operative position asshown in Fig. 1 or a raised inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2, thelatter being for the purpose of either filling or emptying the boiler25.

The handle structure, indicated by the numeral 39, comprises a handleproper 40 carried by fron-t and rear posts 41 and 42, the latter beingprovided with a rearward extension 43 carrying hinge pins 44 which arereceived in apertures 45 in the rear portion of the casing 24. As shownin Figs. l through 4, the rear of the casing 24 is recessed to vreceivethe rearward extension of the handle and to provide opposite inner walls46 in which the apertures 45 are disposed.

The front 'post 4l of the handle ,structure has a recess 47 providingclearance for the steam dome 31 when the handle structure is in theoperative position shown in Fig. l. Within the recess 47 there ismounted a stopper means for sealing the `discharge opening 38 of thesteam dome,

said stopper means comprising an annulus 48 of yieldable rubber-likematerial, carried by a diskor plate 49 mounted on a stud 50 passing itnoa transverse wall 51 in the post 41. The stud 50 has a head 52engageable with a shouldered bushing 53 to limit downward movement ofthe stud, and a spring 54 is provided on the stud, engaging I thebushing and the disk 49 to yieldably hold the stopper assemblage in alowered position against the top of the steam dome as `viewed in Fig.l.. The annulus 48 is arranged to engage the outer 4top rim portion ofthe steam dome 31 so as to seal the discharge opening 38 when the handlestructure 39 is in operative position illustrated. Such engagementcompresses the spring 54 slightly, enabling the spring to maintain aconstant force between the `annulus 48 and the steam dome whereby aneffective seal is maintained.

In accordance withthis invention a simplified stopper means is provided,carried by the handle structure 39, for closing the filler opening `35when the handle is in op- `erativeposition. -Referringxto.Figs. l=and.`2,tthe handle structure 39includes .a baseiportion 55 ywhich is.generally flat and relatively broad, `extending between -the front andrear-posts 41 and :42. On the underside of the base portion 55 adepending bossf56 is provided, having-a bore to receive a drive screw 57carrying a pair of disks 58 and 59 rigidly secured together `and havingperipheral flanges 60 and 61 respectively between which a sealingannulus 62 is carried. The annulus62 istformed of rubber or rubber-likematerial and is adapted to engage the funnel.36 soas to seal the `filleropening 35 when the handle structure 39 is in the operative position ofFig. l.

It will be noted that the stopper assembly is 4extremely simple andeconomical to produce, being devoid of dernountable connections. and Vof`yieldable means such as springs and the like, since it consists only offourparts, the drivetscrew 57, the disks 5S and `59, and the `annulus 62as shown in Figs. l and 7. "Preferably, as illustrated, the disk 58 hasan offset central portion which is dished upwardly and apertured toreceive the shank of the drive screw '57, the head of said screwbeing'held captive between the dished portion of the ldiskSS and `thecenter portion of the disk 59.

In Fig. ll, I show a modified form of stopper for the filler opening.This stopper comprises a sealing annulus 62 carried by flanges 60a and61a of disks 53a and 59a, said disks being secured together at theircenter by a stud l57awhich is threaded and screwed into a depending boss56a of a handle structure similar to the structure 39 in Figs. l and 2.Between the .boss 56a andthe disk58a I provide shims or spacer washers57 b whereby the stopper may be adjustably positioned on the handlestructure to take care of'variations in the dimensions of the componentparts of the iron.

I have found, as will hereinafter be brought out, that it is possible toutilize the yieldability of other parts of the iron separate from thestopper assembly in order to enable said assembly to maintain a constantforce or pressure on the funnel 3,6 ,and an effective seal therewith,and thus the stopper may be simple and economically manufactured asabove outlined.

.ln conjunction with the non-resilient stopper mounting described above,I arrange the stopper lassembly for the steam dome 31` to act asa-safety .valve whereby excess steam pressure in the boiler 25 willunseal the steam dome and allow steam to escape Linto the recess 47 ofthe front handle post 41. To accomplish this it is merely necessary toarrange the coil spring 54 to yield under a predetermined desiredpressure exerted on it by the disk 49 in response to steam ,pressure onthe underside of the disk. Thus'I utilize the resilient mounting'of thestopper for the steam dome to enable the stopper for the filler openingto be tnon-yieldably mounted.

In addition to this, I may utilize ythe inherent yieldability of theboiler and casing walls, or utilize resilient means associatedv with thelatch mechanism for the handle structure or with the -mounting for thefunnel 36 either singly or in various combinations, to enable asatisfactory and effective seal to `be obtained at lthe filler opening35 while still using a stopper having a simplified rigid-type mounting.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, it will be noted that the handle structure39 is hingedly secured to the casing 24 at the rear of the flatiron, ,atpoints which are remote from the funnel 36. `In conjunction with this Iprovide a latch mechanism on the base 55 of the handle structure, havingcooperable parts on the casing 24 but not on-the boiler 25, and sincethe casing and Vboiler aresecured together at the steam dome which isremote from the filler funnel `36 any force exerted between the funneland the vhandle through the stopper for the filler opening would involvethe inherent yieldability of the top walls of the casing 24 and `boiler25.

The latching mechanism, Figs. l and 2, comprises a knob 63 carried on ashaft 64 passing through the base 55 of the handle structure. At itslower end the shaft 64 has a crosshead 65 adapted to enter a slot 66 ina latching plate67'secured to the top wall 68 of the casing 24. Theshaft-.'64 carriesia washer 64a adjacent the crosshead 65, and furthercarries a helical compression spring 70 engaging the washer `64a andtheunderside of the base 55 of thehandle structure. Referring to Fig. 2,the knob 63 and latching mechanism are in released position Wherein thecrosshead'65 may enter the'notch 66 if the handle structure 39 should`be lowered to operative position. Considering Fig. 1, when thehandle-structure 39 is in its operative Aposition and the crosshead haspassed through the notch-66 and occupies the space below thelatching'plate67, the `knob 63 may be turned, as through 9()degrees,thereby locking-'fthe crosshead below the latch plate 67.Duringlsuch `latching operation slight downward pressure `is appliedtothe handle structure 39, causing the compression spring to compressslightly and forcing ythe-stopper for the-fillertopening into andagainst thefunnel 36. Suchpressure may also cause a slight flexing ofthe top wall 69 of-the -boiler'25, all to the end that the crosshead 65can extend below the latching plate 67 `whereupon `the crosshead may berotated -for locking purposes. After the `handle structure 39 -has beenlatched 'and downward presure is removed therefromfthe compressionspring 70 will expand to draw up the crosshead :65 against theunderside` of the latch'plate 67. This action will be 4aided by theforce exerted between the stopper 62.1and the lfunneland will beaccompanied by a lessening of lthe tlexure of the top wall 5 69 of theboiler 25, and a slight flexing of the top wall 68 of the casing 24.Thus I am enabled .to use a simpliiied stopper for 'the iiller opening,having la -rigid mounting means, by utilizing the inherent yieldabilityof the top walls of rthe boiler and casing.

Referring to Fig. 10, I also provide a novel somewhat yieldable mountingfor the funnel of the ller opening. The funnel 36a vshown in Fig. 10 isprovided with a crimped portion 3617 in its side wall, providing partlythe effect of a bellows in that the side wall has less rigidity thanwithout the crimp. In Fig. l the thickness of the funnel wall has beenexaggerated for clarity of illustration. it will be understood, however,that it may be made quite thin, to improve the yieldability.Accordingly, when the handle structure 39 is latched in its operativeposition the crimped portion 36h of Ithe funnel mounting will enable thefunnel tto yield slightly. This improved funnel construction may be usedin conjunction with the yieldable walls 68 and 69 of the casing 24 andboiler 25, or it may be used by itself, to act independently ofyieldability of other par-ts of the iron.

In Figs. 8 and 9 there is illustrated a modified form of latching meanswherein the resilient parts of the latch are so arranged and organizedthat 4they can yield under pressure exerted between the handle structure39 and the body of the iron tending to separate these parts. Thereforethe latching mechanism of Figs. 8 and 9 may be used to supplement theyieldable walls of the casing and boiler, and the yieldable mounting forthe funnel 36, or the latching mechanism may be used independently ofyieldability of said other parts.

As shown, the latch mechanism comprises a knob 71 having a steppedaperture 72 receiving a square portion 73 of a shank 74 carrying at itslower end a crosshead 75. The small portion of the aperture 72 is squareto key the knob 7l to the shank 74, and the large pontion of theaperture contains a compression spring 76 engaging a head 74a on the topend of the shank 74. Through the shank 74 a cross pin 7'7 passes,engaging cam surfaces 78 of a depending flange 79 which is preferablyintegral with the base 55 of the handle structure 38.

Referring to Fig. 9, the latching mechanism is shown in releasedposition. The cross pin 77 is engaging the high parts of the camsurfaces 78, thereby depressing the shank 74 with respect to the baseportion 55 of the handle structure and compressing the spring 76 to thefullest eX- tent. This causes the crosshead 75 to project downwardly thegreatest amount, enabling the crosshead to pass through the slot 66 inthe latch plate 67 and to clear the underside of the latch plate. Whenthe knob 71 is turned, the crosshead 7S will latch under the plate 67 atthe beginning of movement, and as the movement progresses the engagementbetween the cross pin 77 and the cam surface 7S will be relieved ordiscontinued, enabling the spring 76 to expand thereby forcing the baseportion 55 of the handle structure 39 downward. This will result vin thestopper for the filler opening being forcibly held against the iillerfunnel at all times that the handle structure is in the operativeposition of Fig. l.

Release of the latch mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is obviouslyaccomplished by merely turning the knob 77 from the position of Fig. 8tto the position of Fig. 9, through 90 degrees, and .thereby againcompressing the spring 76 and disposing the crosshead 79 longitudinallyof the notch 68 whereby it may be released from the latch plate 67.

lt will be noted that by utilizing the resilient parts of the latchmechanism of the handle and the stopper mechanism .for the steam dome,and by utilizing the yieldability of the sheet metal walls of the casingand boiler l am enabled to provide a stopper for the ller opening havinga simplified rigid type mounting which is less costly. Also, I mayobtain 'this resul-t further by providing the extremely simple yieldablemounting for the 6 funnel 39a illustrated in Fig. 10, and it will beobvious that various combinations of the above structures may beemployed as desired.

In accordance with this invention novel latch mean are provided inconjunction with the hinge between the handle structure 39 and the bodyof the iron whereby the handle structure may be locked in the openposition shown in Fig. 2 to provide for easy and quick filling andemptying of the boiler whether the iron is hot or cold. Referring toFigs. l through 5, one of the hinge pins t4 is provided with pairs ofoppositely projecting locking ears 8U adapted to extend into notches 81in one of the apertures 45 in the casing 24. The hinge pin 44 having theears 30 also has a transverse hole 82 receiving a pin 83 which passesthrough a slot 84 in the rear of the base of the handle structure 39,the outer end of the pin 33 having a knob 85. A compression spring 36 ismounted in back of the hinge pin 44 and normally urges the pin outwardlyof its recess, and such movement is limited by the engagement betweenthe transverse pin 83 and the wall of the slot 84.

By this construction the handle structure 39 is automatically latched inthe open position shown in Fig. 2 whenever it is swung upward to saidposition. Upon attaining such position, the hinge pin 44 is shiftedaxially by the spring 86, causing the locking ears 80 to enter thenotches 8l. in order to release the hinge latch it is only necessary tograsp the knob 85 and shif-t it to the right as viewed in Fig. 3,thereby retracting the hinge pm 44 and removing the ears Si? from thenotches 81.

Variations and modifications may be'made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

i claim:

l. ln a steam iron, a boiler having a wall provided with a filleropening, said wall having a rim portion extending around said opening; astopper; a funnel-like seat for the iiller opening, shaped forengagement by said stopper; means comprising crimped walls connectingthe seat to the said rim portion of the boiler wall, yieldably mountingsaid seat on the wall laround the ller opening; and means mounting thestopper on the boiler for movement between open position removed fromthe seat and closed position engaging the seat.

2. l'n a steam iron, a boiler having a wall provided with a filleropening; a stopper for said opening; means hingedly mounting the stopperon the boiler for movement between positions sealing said opening andremoved therefrom; and means carried by the last-named means forlatching the stopper in position sealing said opening,

said latching means including a latch member and resilient meansdisposed between the latch member and means mounting the stopper forapplying :continuous force to move the mounting means in the directionto cause the stopper to maintain the seal thereof.

3. In a steam iron, va sheet metal boiler having a top wall ofrelatively large area, provided in its central portion with a filleropening; a sheet metal casing overlying the top of the boiler, having anopening aligned with said filler opening; means securing said boiler`and casing to each other solely at points remote from said openings; astopper for said filler opening; mean-s hingedly mounting the stopper onthe casing for movement between a sealing position adjacent the lleropening and an unsealing posiy tion remote from the filler opening;means on said preceding means and on the top wall of the casing, fo-rlatching the stopper in sealing position, said top boiler and casingwalls having a degree of yieldability enabling the latching means to exthem in latching the stopper, to provide for continuous sealingforcebetween the stopper and the edge portions of the ller opening.

4. Ina steam iron, a boiler having 'a wall provided with a ller opening;a stopper for said opening; means hingedly mounting the stopper on theboiler for movement between positions sealing said opening and removedtherefrom;

and means tcarriediby the last-named means for latching the stoppervinposition segalngtsaid openng,.said 1atching means including a latchmember and resilient means disposed biweenithe latohmember and meansmounting the stopperffor applyingeontinuous forcelto move themountingfmeanstin the direction to canse the stopper to main- `tain ,theseal thereof, said stopper mounting means including ra vmovablehandlestructure for the iron and said latching `meanscomprising a pin movableaxially in said lhandle structure and ,protruding therefrom toward theboiler, the saidresilient means comprising a spring carried byisaid lpinand normally urging lthe latter to a less-protruding position on thehandle structure.

5. kln a `stenrniron, n boiler having a wall provided with 'a lfilleropening; a stopper for said opening; means hingeldly mounting thestopper on the boiler for movement between positionssealing said openingand removed therefrom; and means carried by the last-named means `forlatching the stopper in position sealing said opening, .said latchingmeansrincluding a latch member and resilient means :disposed between[the latch member and means mouningfthefstpper, fior-.applyingcontinuous force to ymove the mounting means ,in `the direction to causethe References Ctedin the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,189,709 Deems Feb. 6, 1940 2,322,593 `Riddington et al June 22, 19432,475,571 Schreyer July 5, 1949 2,475,572 Schreyer July 5, 19492,483,816 Edwards Oct. 4, 1949 y2,533,995 Chapin Dec. 12, 1950

